Thank you to all those who have read my story so far. I managed to solve the little issue with the quotation marks. Just for hilarity I made Tali take the lead in the romance, instead of Shepard (the game had Shepard lead the romance, which, frankly, i didn't like). Hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Kasumi

Kasumi stretched comfortably as she sat on her favorite part of her couch. Stifling a yawn, her thoughts soon drifted back to the man named Jacob Taylor, just one level above her on the Normandy. As she studied her nails, she was just thinking about how to approach the stoic man when her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the Port observation door opening.

"Tali? What are you doing here?"

`Sorry Kasumi, but this is really urgent, "Tali wrung her hands, `it's about Shepard."

Kasumi sat up. "What's wrong? Is he okay?"

Tali shook her hands. `No, nothing like that. I just wanted to talk to you about the fact that Shepard… seems to like me a lot. `

(My God, is there anyone on this ship that is still single anymore? First Garrus and Kelly, and then Kenneth and Gabby and now Shepard and Tali?)

Outwardly, Kasumi's expression was unchanged. `Go on. `

Tali began to bounce on her toes, an activity Kasumi knew Shepard found cute. "Well, just about a couple of hours ago, Shepard, um, tried to flirt with me."

Kasumi held up a hand. "And let me guess. You ran away screaming?"

Tali nodded. "Sort of."

Kasumi snapped her fingers. "Knew it. So, what can I do for you?"

`Well, seeing as you are the master of gossip on this ship (Kasumi blushed), I was hoping that you would have some information on how Shepard feels about me. `

Kasumi held up her hand again. "But do you feel the same way back to him? I really want to know before I tell you."

Tali shifted her weight from one foot to the other, before nodding.

Kasumi smiled. "Well, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I know you would just spread it around the ship."

"What makes you think that I wouldn't just spread it now anyway?"

"Because if you do tell me what Shepard feels, and he does feel the same way, I am going to make it public anyway."

Kasumi nodded. "You made your point." Leaning back, she considered what she had to say to Tali. Kasumi did indeed know that Shepard was attracted to his quarian engineer through an off-hand comment he had made to her back on Haestrom.

(What had he said?)

(He had told me about how it would feel like to hold Tali in his arms and comfort her about the loss of the people under her command.)

(Mmmm… That's pretty convincing proof.)

Kasumi turned her eyes back to Tali, who was now apprehensively staring at Kasumi and rubbing her hands together. Looking at that sight, Kasumi could not help but relent.

"Yeah, Tali. He did mention that he liked you. But do you want some advice? It's free."

Tali was visibly excited at her words. But she managed to calm down sufficiently to reply. "Go on."

Kasumi stared right at where she guessed Tali`s eyes would be. "I can't say for sure what Shepard feels. But I would strongly advise you to wait. If the feeling is real between the both of you, I guarantee that Shepard will approach you first. "

Tali stared at her. "And how do you know that? "she asked.

Kasumi gave a sneaky grin. "Trust me; I am very good at reading people. Comes with the job. "

Tali smiled. "Thanks Kasumi! "she said as she turned around to leave, a visible lightness in her steps.


Shepard

Shepard shook his head as he punched the elevator for engineering. He was still reeling over his conversation with Garrus, and he still could not believe what he was about to do.

(Damn it, what's taking this lift so bloody long?)

(Are you sure about what you are going to do, Shepard?)

Shepard tried to collect his thoughts.

(No, not at all. But Garrus is right. I can't delay this any longer. She deserves to know, at the very least. And if she does try to kill me, well, I can't say that I didn't live my life to the fullest, can I?)

(Don't even joke like that.)

As the moniter on the lift showed that the cab was on its way to engineering, Shepard tried to psyche himself into what he was about to do.

(Slow, deep breaths. Don't forget what Kelly told you about Tali. About how she wants to be more than just friends. Kelly can't be wrong, can she?)

Fortified by his thoughts, Shepard stepped out of the lift with a new sense of purpose. He confidently strode around the corner…

and ran right into Tali. His confidence died as quickly as it had started.

"Oh, hi Shepard! I didn't see there. " Tali said in her typical cheery voice.

(Pardon me, but does she seem cheerier than usual?)

(Shut up. Don't ruin this for me.)

"Oh, hi there Tali! I didn't see you there, " Shepard stuttered, "I was just looking for you. Listen, can I talk to you for a minute? "

Tali rubbed her hands together. "Sure, what about? "

"It's about, um, what I told you at the Mess hall three hours ago. Remember? " Shepard braced himself for the inevitable manifestation of a certain purple hologram.

Tali looked at him for what felt like an hour, before grabbing his arm and hauling him off to the Normandy's mass effect core.

"This isn't a conversation we should be having in the middle of the corridor, Shepard. "said Tali as she dragged a helpless Commander Shepard behind her.

The Normandy's mass effect core was silent and deserted, as always. No one other than Kenneth and Gabby really found the need to stand in the core and watch a giant ball vibrate. But for Tali and Shepard, both found the silence very welcome for their present situation.

Tali set her Commander in front of her, and placed her hands on her hips. Shepard was by now sweating slightly and cursing Garrus with the foulest words he knew.

Seeing that she wasn`t going to get a response from the near catatonic Shepard, Tali decided to speak first.

"So, Shepard, you wanted to speak to me about our little `incident`?"

Shepard nodded. "I just wanted to know if you are okay with what I said. I didn't mean to hurt you or anything."

Tali waved her hand. "No Shepard, you don't have to ever worry about hurting me with what you said. In fact, I was kind of hoping that you would come by today."

Shepard was taken aback. "R…really? What for?"

Tali gave Shepard a coy smile. "I wanted to know if you really meant what you said. About finding me cute."

Shepard gave a sheepish grin. "Heh, heh. Um, well, to be honest, yes, I really do find you cute."

"Well, admittedly, so do I."

(I'll be damned. It's true. Kelly needs a pay rise)

(Don't forget Garrus too!)

But all semblance of coherent thought that Shepard possessed was whipped away when Tali seized hold of both of Shepard's hands and held them in her own. Shepard could only stare, transfixed.

Tali grinned. "Wow, the great Commander Shepard is for once at a loss for words!"

"For you, Tali, of course."

Tali's smiled. "Since when did you become interested in me, Shepard?"

Shepard considered. "Ever since you first came aboard the original Normandy. I could remember the times when I stayed awake, thinking about you. And the last thought I had before I died was how I would never be able to see you again. And I never thought something like this would ever happen…until now. You are my dream, Tali, and I don't ever want to wake up."

Tali stared at him.

Shepard winced "Okay, I know the last line was really bad, but…"

Shepard froze up in shock as Tali linked her arms behind his back and pulled him into a hug. His thoughts all collapsed and the only thing Shepard could bring himself to do was stroke her back gently. From within her mask Shepard thought he could hear sobs.

"You have no idea how much I missed you too, Shepard. The two years after you died were absolutely the worst in my life. No one could comfort my anguish. The only thing that would put me out of my misery was death…or your return. And you did return."

Shepard smiled. "Looks like you have the Illusive man to thank, after all."

Tali sniffed and gave a tearful smile. "Don't worry. I'll send him a thank-you gift."

They stood in that position for a while longer, each enjoying the other's touch, until Tali broke the silence.

"So what does this mean? Are we together?"

Shepard smiled. "Yes, Tali. We are."

Tali's voice grew coy. "You know, I've always wanted to see how you look like under that shirt."

Shepard's eyes widened. "Oh! Um, I could show you if you want. Right now!" He grinned.

Tali gave Shepard a light smack on the chest. "Not now, you silly Bosh'tet. In time. When I am ready, I will come to you. You should get ready, too.

Shepard had never felt so elated in his life. Holding each other's hands, they slowly walked out of engineering, not noticing as Garrus and Kasumi, hiding behind a wall, high-fived each other and began collecting credit chits from other forlorn members of the crew.


Mordin

Mordin was busy, as usual, on a bunch of samples collected from the Collector base, now an atomized bunch of particles floating in deep space. Setting down his miniature microscope, Mordin activated his Omni-tool and began busily typing away about his latest findings. So engrossed was he, in his work that he did not notice the door to the lab opening.

"Interesting samples. Proves that Collectors are indeed directly controlled by Harbinger. Interesting. Need more samples to confirm results. Oh, wait, have samples. Good."

"Mordin? Do you have any time?"

Mordin looked up. "Oh, hello Shepard. Didn't hear you come in. What do you need?"

"I need to talk to you. About Tali."

Mordin nodded knowingly. "Oh yes, Common knowledge aboard Normandy now."

"Beg pardon?"

"You and Tali. Common knowledge. Everyone knows now."

Shepard scowled. "When I find out who did that…"

Mordin gave a smile. "Didn't think you came here to rant about love life. What do you need?"

Shepard shifted uncomfortably. "I wanted to know if you have any, um, pointers about the both of us doing, you know, it."

"Please specify."

"You know what I mean, Mordin. Just tell me if you can give me any help."

Mordin began rooting through a stack of papers. "Relationship between human and quarian unusual. Might have something here that will interest you." Finally, after a few minutes of searching, Mordin held up a small booklet.

"What's that?"

"Little book on interspecies relationships. Wrote it myself. Thought it might interest you. Contains all the information you could ever need. Will also forward several vids regarding quarian physiology to your cabin. Strongly recommend you watch them."

Shepard coughed. "Um, it isn't porn, is it?"

Mordin looked shocked. "Would never do such a thing! Those vids are not pornography, they are educational videos!"

Shepard laughed. "I'm sure they are, Mordin. Is there anything else I should know?"

"Yes, Shepard. Consummating relationship with Tali`Zorah will require large amounts of immuno-boosters. Have some with me now, and am sure that Tali`Zorah has some too. But it is not enough. You have to go to the Citadel and purchase some, Shepard."

"What? Can't I purchase it through the extranet?"

"Immuno-boosters restricted items. Must turn up in person for purchase."

"But then everyone will know about our relationship!" Shepard wailed.

Mordin shrugged.

Shepard groaned. Great, just great.